In a letter addressed to key EU leaders, Merz emphasized the need to expedite the EU enlargement process, particularly in light of the upcoming EU-Western Balkans summit in Montenegro. He argued that the prolonged accession timeline has led to frustration among candidate countries and existing member states. While acknowledging the challenges, Merz suggested that Ukraine’s accession could be facilitated through privileged access to the internal market and observer status in EU bodies. He underscored the geopolitical necessity of EU expansion, particularly for the Western Balkans and Moldova.